The Project utilized a number of innovative concepts, useful in the first few years of the project when the contracting process was being carried out.

The Community Resource Board (CRB) helped to foster a sense of cooperation between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, the community, and businesses in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The CRB was comprised of leaders from all sectors of the community including financial institutions, women's groups, small, minority and women owned businesses, civil rights and civic organizations, religious and faith based groups, and secondary and post-secondary educational institutions. This group met regularly to provide input to the program staff for enhancing the DBE Program on the project.

The Civil Rights Council (CRC) was a group established to provide enhanced and cooperative program assistance to the community, businesses and contractor associations during the contract bidding phase of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project. The Council included representatives from all of the governments involved in the carrying out or oversight of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, Federal, State and the District of Columbia . The CRC provided technical assistance on Civil Rights Program administrative issues or concerns including: communications, outreach, training, workforce development, employment, and provisions for DBE and small business contracting.